Week in Review

NEWPORT BEACH

Possible conflict leads city to reconsider park vote

City Council members decided Monday to reconsider moving ahead with plans to build a park next to the central library, after they learned a parks commissioner who helped with the planning might have a conflict of interest. City officials say Debra Allen, a city parks commissioner who has been a strong advocate of Newport Center Park, lives within 500 feet of the park.

That distance could be a conflict of interest, under state Fair Political Practices Commission rules, City Atty. Robin Clauson said. Allen said she thinks the city’s measurements are wrong and that she is farther from the park. The council on Tuesday will consider rescinding its Feb. 27 decision to proceed with the park.

The Upper Newport Bay restoration project that began in February 2006 got another $5 million this week, but it’s actually already-promised money from a new source. Federal legislators failed to agree on 2007 appropriations bills that would have helped fund the dredging project, so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave from their surplus funds.

The project to dredge 2.3 million cubic yards of sediment from the Upper Newport Bay will cost $38 million and should be finished in 2008.

BUSINESS

Fashion Island building will make way for boutiques

Demolition began last week on the old Macy’s women’s store in Fashion Island, making room for an Italian-inspired, piazza-style boutique shopping area.

Although the Irvine Co. has not finalized any leases yet, the developer plans to bring in smaller boutique stores to the oval-shaped piazza.

The planned outdoor shopping area will have a fountain surrounded by boutiques.

Parking and traffic should not be hindered by the demolition, which the Irvine Co. estimated would take about two weeks.

The piazza shopping area is planned to be finished by late 2008.

Mike Martin celebrates the 25th year of owning the Balboa Pharmacy on the peninsula this month and plans to continue the tradition of personalized service at the independent pharmacy.

Martin knows all his regular customers by name, and following many small independent stores closing shop, he has made sure to stock products the closed-down stores used to sell.

He fills about 60 prescriptions every day, which affords him the time to really talk with his customers about the drugs and their interactions. He takes just about every insurance carrier, despite not being listed in insurance plan booklets.

Beyond prescription drugs, the store carries myriad items — everything from video rentals and cough syrup to Newport Beach tchotchkes and beach towels. The pharmacy is at the corner of Main Street and Balboa Boulevard on the peninsula.

EDUCATION

School district center named after former leader

Robert Barbot, who retired in July as superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, didn’t have to wait long to get a landmark named after him.

On Monday, the district officially dedicated the Robert J. Barbot Educational Support Services and Teaching Center — which abbreviates to the BESST Center, or “best.”

The center, near Rea Elementary School on Costa Mesa’s Westside, houses the district’s adult education classrooms, health services clinic and language assessment office.

About 100 people gathered for the ribbon-cutting on Monday afternoon, with Barbot and others making speeches.

Becky Bishai, Newport-Mesa’s adult education principal, quoted baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who said that a life was only important in the effects it had on other lives.

“Dr. Barbot, you had an immeasurable impact on our lives, the lives of our staff members and, most importantly, the lives of our students,” she said.

COSTA MESA

Girls Inc. headquarters receives renovation

The headquarters of Girls Inc. of Orange County got a sprucing-up Wednesday courtesy of Team Depot — a volunteer group of Home Depot employees devoted to serving their local communities.

About 150 volunteers from 21 of the home improvement retailer’s stores, as well as various community members, pitched in to enhance the facility with a brand new playground, a freshly painted interior and exterior and a modernized kitchen.

A black, wooden pirate ship — courtesy of Garden Grove Home Depot assistant manager Brad Beihl — stole the show, delighting the girls when they arrived to the scene.

“We’ve been in this community for more than 50 years,” said Lucy Santana, executive director of the nonprofit that served more than 4,000 girls last year. “It really was time for us to get some renovations and updates.”

The City Council voted Tuesday that members Wendy Leece and Linda Dixon will switch seats, after a debate some considered a waste of the city’s time. Leece said she requested the change to be next to City Manager Allan Roeder so he can answer her questions at meetings.

When Mayor Allan Mansoor asked Dixon on March 6 to trade, Dixon said she thought the change was unnecessary and an attempt by Mansoor to marginalize her. Dixon is often in the minority in split votes. She lost the seat change, 3-1, with Councilwoman Katrina Foley abstaining.

WEEK OUT

PUBLIC SAFETY

Tryouts in chilly waters test 100 lifeguard hopefuls

The City of Newport Beach held its annual lifeguard tryouts last week, with more than 100 hopefuls on the starting line. The event started just after 9 a.m. last Sunday with a 1,000-meter race into the chilly waters just north of the Newport Pier.

The new lifeguards were offered their spots after averaging out their finishing spots in the swim and a Run-Swim-Run, which also was 1,000 meters.

The city welcomed 45 seasonal lifeguards onto its staff.

Over the next few months before the summer season, the group of mostly teens will complete CPR, first aid and other training.

After what Orange County health officials said was the final inspection of the Costa Mesa Piecemakers Country Store, owner Marie Kolasinski spoke about her contempt for the government’s treatment of her and her store. In January, Kolasinski was sentenced to 10 days’ jail time in Orange County Women’s Jail. She was also required to pay thousands in fines for health violations, serve three years of probation and ordered to attend anger management courses.

Once the inspection was completed, Kolasinski gave county authorities a written demand for reimbursement of all her court and violation fees, and for her classes and probation to be canceled.